oranges@halftime

CHAMPIONS OF CANADA VINTAGE STYLE How many do you recognise? It’s that Canadian soccer moment once again. Maybe. Let’s cast our soccer minds back first. It’s July 22nd, 2008 and the underdog Montreal Impact are playing that evening against the highly fancied and hometown popular, Toronto FC. It’ the final game of the inaugural Canadian Championship. Or to give the tournament its full official title - the 2008 Nutrilite Canadian Championship. Where come the final whistle one o

Joey Saputo et Gabriel Gervais avec la mairesse de Montréal, Soraya Martinez As CF Montreal and Toronto FC go at it in Saturday afternoon’s, “El 401 Classico ;)” the teams are separated by 5 points in the table. Both marooned in the Eastern Conference cellar. Their current valuations according to Sportico are not quite surprisingly in completely different time zones. When the well regarded Sports Business Index released their annual Major League Sports Valuations for 2026

HE’S ONE OF OUR OWN More questions than answers following Tuesday’s lone goal defeat in Minnesota. Canada’s inadequacy in the final third is stalling the team’s growth. Stunting as we go. The match statistics bare that out. Twice as many touches in the opponent’s penalty area, more shots too. Pochettino’s makeshift team scoring from their own shot on target. Which ironically came from a mis hit shot which had corner flag wrote all over it. Just like at the 2026 World Cup - C

Trailblazing Hoilett Heartwarming The unprecedented three match international break got off to a flyer for the ‘World Champion’ Canadian team. Well World Champions in beating teams who’ve had a couple of payers sent off. A revitalised Jonathan David’s opener had memories of 6 nil Qatar wrote all over it. For all JD’s Juve doubters there’s a growing list of Atlético supporters who beg to differ. Very cool there with the individual player introductions, not too sure though abou

WATCH THIS SPACE FOR SOME UPCOMING FOOTBALL FABULOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS oranges@halftime pulp free, freshness guaranteed estd.2003

Soon to be properly celebrated as a revered member of your Montreal Impact Lloyd Barker discusses his, the team's and club's trials, tribulations and even bankruptcy. Throughout a career that began in the club's inaugural 1993 season, spanned well over a decade and bought the club it's very first playoff crown. A second playoff crown would follow. Various Voyageurs Cups, Regular season titles and a number of personal accolades - a 30-minute in-studio feature conversation wit

The Gift Which Kept Giving The Scene of the 2026 Unusual World Cup Launch Washington DC, December 5th, 2025 [LONDON] Well before the World Cup kicked off; I stated three things which I rinsed and repeated throughout the 39-days of the 2026 World Cup Finals. On me socials, TSN690 Airwaves plus even out on the street to anyone half decent who might want to listen. Firstly, I branded CANUSMEX2026 [The United Bid in its origins], The Unusual World Cup. Simply based on World Cu

WILL KLOPP WEAR HIS OWN TEETH IN HIS NEW ROLE? ARGENTINA FORGET THEIR SHOOTING BOOTS FOR THE FINAL. UNTIL JUST AFTER THE FINAL WHISTLE. POOR LITTLE LEO HAS A MELTDOWN. A LOOK BACK AT THE 39 DAYS OF HI & LOWLIGHTS 25 SLEEPS TILL THE PREMIER LEAGUE KICKS OFF... FOXTROT OSCAR

The Jules Rimet Trophy origins & sequel Back in 1930, the inaugural World Cup was hosted by the football fabulous Uruguay. The final was played in front of just under 70,000 at Stadio Centenario, Montevideo. The hosts versus Argentina, played and competed for what was the Jules Rimet Trophy Not the FIFA World Cup. Not even this afternoon’s Johnny and Donnie Trophy. M. Jules Rimet was the incredibly visionary soul who devised a competition which would bring together the fine

One which leant on Argentina's fabled emotional selves and their incredible rational football selves. With a rare in-studio appearance we also set up Sunday's final. Luca, Jon and Butler give their predictions. PLUS announce an UGO Pizzeria $100 GC Promotion for the World Cup Final. Guess the score Sunday, and name who scores the winning goal? Tweet responses to: @NoelPButler or email us here: info@orangesathalftime.net Deadline 3:00pm et Sunday. bonne chance

Inspired by Tuchel’s “Exciting” Interventions Possibly Bossman Lionel was inspired by Professor Steve Peters SPOT THE NEW YORK NEW YORK BOOUND ONE? England were touched by greatness in the ironically named Mercedes Benz Stadium. Eternal greatness at that. There’s one thing to invite something on [Are you Listening Tommy T] but it takes a more superior animal to pull it off. Messi yet again the orchestra conductor. Enzo displaying his vital importance to the national cause. Th

Sorry here certain Argentines but a majority of mainstream Blighty could not give one of those flying things today for ‘las malvinas son Argentinos.’ Have all the bad wine you can stomach boys and girls. Don’t though let it drown out what is yet another moment in the World Cup’s finest and fiercest rivalry. This one a very first Semi Final between two of world football’s founding fathers. Don’t believe me, then please go visit the UK, feel the pulse of a nation. England that

Curtains for France,Spain off to New Your, New York One more sleep till a battle royale I ain't sure Houston's ever seen on a sporting field

World Cup History their deniers, not me. And of yeh Hey Jude is the cats meow

A dear friend text me a WSJ article hier soir setting up the 2026 Round of Fabulous Four. All I saw was the headline which set off alarm bells. Must put something down on paper, in writing. Well type out on a MacBook. One older than the last time Germany won a playoff round at a World Cup Finals. Brazil2014 if you’re asking. In the Final no less, versus las Malvinas son Argentinos, hey olde Jug Ears? Germany put a 4th star on their shirts. Little Leo didn’t even get a robe fr

As Silly Bollards here mentioned [not predicted,humble is me]last Friday ahead of Spain v Belgium that come the Final Four we could have the finalists from both EURO24 and Qatar22. In other words the top 4 ranked nations in all of World Football. Unprecedented

Disappointments suffered, determination willed ce soir’s winner Standing taller on more colossal on a pitch these days is that Mount Vesuvius of a footballer; Erling Haaland More sculptured than the Statue of Liberty which stands proudly in New York Harbour, within shouting distance of the venue for the World Cup Final on July 19th. Don’t mess with the best, as the best don’t like to mess with the rest Haaland is a walking, talking, scoring phenom. Physicality, strength, and

Exactly four weeks after the world gathered in Mexico City for the 2026 World Cup; the original 48 nations have been whittled down to just the 8. Now just the six. Where nowa most enticing proposition awaits. The Final Four could solely comprise of the EURO2024 Finalists plus the Qatar2022 Finalists. I'm not going to check... but I believe that makes it the Top 4 FIFA Ranked Nations. FABULOUS FINAL FOUR it is then.

The Quarter Finals have kicked off on the pitch, as FIFA Upgrade Official Officials Number. When the beautiful game entered my world, there was but a referee and two linesmen. All 3 sporting immaculate black tops and shorts. Plus heritage like black socks to the knees. Topped off with the most immaculate looking pure white fold overs, will elastic bands to hold them into place. Precision baby. That number has increased 3 fold over my lifetime. Some inflation that Gianni? Not

Lots of bitterness and acrimony has flowed following the most outrageous and highly controversial VAR Intervention which led to a splendid legitimate Egypt goal been confined to the overflowing VAR delete bin. Something tells me this is not going to just go the way off way too much contemptible occurrences during what has been a most glorious World Cup on both the pitch and in the stadium stands. Which begs the question is FIFA still fit for purpose?